Newburgh the smart move

Is Newburgh on the verge of becoming the next great weekend getaway spot in New York? If Sims Foster and Kristen Harlow Foster got it right, the short answer is yes.

After years of planning, the couple, founders of Foster Supply Hospitality, launched one of the most ambitious hospitality projects the Hudson Valley has seen in a generation. The goal: transform three historic buildings — the former Masonic Temple, YMCA, and American Legion— into a 74-room hotel complete with rooftop tavern, spa, restaurants, cigar lounge and event space just off Broadway.

Cranes and scaffolding in downtown Newburgh herald brick-and-mortar progress — the project is expected to open as early as next year — serving as a beacon for anyone considering a move to this corner of the Hudson Valley.

An Eight-Year Journey Finally Breaks Ground

Foster Supply Hospitality is the Sullivan County group behind some of the Catskills’ newest boutique inns, and it is bringing its signature style to Newburgh’s Grand Street corridor. The $45.9 million project is transforming the former Masonic Temple, YMCA, and American Legion — two vacant and one, the legion hall, used for the Boys & Girls Club’s Newburgh Performing Arts Academy, which found space in a nearby location — into what the company hopes will become the Hudson Valley’s newest tourist destination.

The idea was first presented to Foster Supply in 2019 by a local Newburgh development group, and it took nearly five years to secure financing for the project. Workers broke ground in December. Mayor Torrance Harvey has called the Newburgh economic development “transformational,” pointing to the ripple effects it should have on the city’s downtown business corridor, tourism, and overall momentum — what he describes as part of the city’s broader renaissance.

Why Foster Supply Hospitality Is a Big Deal

Foster Supply Hospitality has developed a string of inns that have boosted tourism across the Western Catskills, including The Arnold House, Livingston Manor, The DeBruce, Hemlock Neversink and Kenoza Hall. The company was founded by a husband-and-wife team who left careers in big-city hospitality and finance to come home to Sullivan County and reinvest in the communities that raised them.

Their formula has been simple but effective: take a historic, often-overlooked building, restore it with meticulous attention to detail, and pair it with a restaurant menu and design identity rooted in local history.

It’s worked well enough that the brand has landed coverage in Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes, Bon Appétit, and The New York Times, and the founders were semi-finalists for a James Beard “Outstanding Restaurateur” award. Sims has put it simply: the goal has always been to come home and use what he’s learned to help the place he loves most.

Bringing that same hotel development philosophy to Newburgh — an Orange County city with no shortage of architecturally rich, underused buildings — suggests the company sees long-term potential in the area, not just a one-off investment. And Triange Movers heartily agrees, having called Newburgh home since 1996.

What This Means If You’re Moving to the Area

For families and businesses weighing a move to Newburgh or the surrounding Hudson Valley, projects like this matter more than they might seem to at first glance.

• Downtown investment tends to snowball. Hotels and restaurants increase foot traffic, which draws more retail and dining, making a neighborhood more walkable and livable — exactly the kind of momentum that’s been building along Newburgh’s waterfront and Liberty Street corridor.
• Property values often follow major redevelopment. Whether you’re buying, renting, or just curious about the long-term value of a move, large-scale projects backed by experienced operators are a strong indicator of where a market is headed.
• More amenities. A spa, rooftop tavern, and new dining options within walking distance of Grand Street mean residents won’t have to travel far for a nice night out — a perk that matters when you’re settling into a new town.
• A sign of confidence in Newburgh. Foster Supply didn’t have to look far afield for its first project outside Sullivan County. Choosing Newburgh after years of due diligence says a lot about where smart, experienced developers think the Hudson Valley is headed.

Newburgh Is Having a Moment

Whether you’re relocating for work, downsizing, or simply looking for more space without leaving the region, the Hudson Valley continues to prove it’s more than just a weekend getaway from New York City. Newburgh’s evolution — and the Catskills hospitality know-how moving in to help drive it — is one more reason this area is worth a serious look.

If a move to Newburgh or anywhere else in the Hudson Valley is on your radar, Triangle Movers is here to help make the transition as smooth as the city’s new skyline promises to be. Reach out to our team today to get your move planned. And, a big Triangle welcome to the Fosters from the Eschbachers.

Call Triangle Movers at (855) 292-3896 or request a no-obligation estimate today.